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Shot Mahnomen deputy undergoes emergency surgery

Christopher Dewey, the sheriff's deputy from Mahnomen County shot in the head and abdomen during a February standoff, underwent emergency surgery early Tuesday to correct major brain bleeding.

Doug Krier, Mahnomen County sheriff, said Dewey will be in intensive care and in an induced coma for a few days, but his family is optimistic about recovery.

"They don't feel it was a setback," said Krier, who spoke with Dewey's wife, Emily Dewey, on Tuesday.

Following about 90 minutes of surgery, the deputy moved both sides of his body and recognized and squeezed his wife's hand, his sister-in-law Hannah Bergman wrote in a 5:18 p.m. blog posting Tuesday.

"Small victories are all that we may find today, though we are excited how far we've come since 1 a.m.," Bergman said on a CaringBridge.org Web site. "Only time will tell the extent of any additional damage caused by last night's traumatic events."

Bergman said the staff at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo., a brain-and-spine center where Dewey was moved for rehabilitation in early March, prepared them for the worst after he went into surgery.

Hospital spokesman Kenny Hosack said Dewey is in serious condition.

The unexpected bleeding came a week after surgery to repair a hole on the right side of Dewey's sinus, from which he was recovering well, his wife wrote in a CaringBridge journal at 7:32 p.m. on Monday.

"Chris had such a good day today!!" she wrote.

The 26-year-old deputy was shot twice on Feb. 18 while investigating a suspected drunken driver. A nine-hour standoff ensued before two suspects were arrested. Both are charged with multiple felonies.

Krier said following Dewey's progress has been emotionally tough on his officers. "It's kind of an up-and-down thing," he said.

Dewey is apparently still in good spirits. Coming out of the March 31 sinus surgery, the first thing he told his wife and sister-in-law was, "Doctor's orders, no nagging," according to a blog post by Emily Dewey.